Track for endless-track vehicles



Dec. 26, 1922. 1,440,243.

G. 1. RACKHAIVI.

TRACK FOR ENDLESS TRACK VEHICLES.

F1LED1uNE14,1922. 3 SHEETS-'SHEET 1v.

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K. #W7 'x INVENTOR GEORGE JOHN RACKHAMD I13117 his Attor'ne v INVENTOR GEORGE JOHN RACKHAM By his Attor'ns 9 DCC. 26, 1922.

(5.1. RACKHAM.

TRACK FOR ENDLESS TRACK VEHICLRS.

J SHEETS-SHED 5.

FILED )UNE I4, 1922.

INVENTOR GEORGE JOHN RACKHAMD Patented Dec. .26, T922.

UNTTEE STATES PATENT @EETCEO GEORGE JOHN RACKHAIVI, OF PUTNEY, LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 RODLESS TRACTION LHVIITED. OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

TRACK FOR ENDLESS-TRACK VEHICLES.

Application 1ed June 1.4, 1922.

To all 107mm t may concern.'

Be it known that l. (irnoncn JoHx RACK- HAM. a subject of the King of (reat Britain. residing at liti upper Richmond lioad. Putney. London, llngland. have invented new and useful'Improvements in Tracks for llndless-'lrack Vehicles, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tracks for endless track vehicles in which the track shoes are connected to links which l are pivot-ally connected together.

According to this invention the links are tubular and adjacent tubes are connected together blv universal joints. Flach tube is contracted at one end forming an external spherical surface which engages with an internal spherical surface of similar curvature formed by a plug inserted into the end of or made in yone fpiece with the adjacent tube. Adjacent tubes are connected together h v a screw bolt having a spherical head which enga-ges with the internal surface of the contracted end of one tube and by a nut which screws on to the bolt and engages with the plug in the adjacent tube through which the bolt passes. Alternatively the bolt may be made in one piece with the plug and a spherical washer may be secured to it by a nut.

ln order to allow of clearance between the tubes. the radius of curvature of the external concave or convex ends is greater than the radius of the tube, rl`he hole in the tube through which the bolt passes is preferably at an angle to the axis of the tube in order to allow the tube to turn a greater distance in an upward direction than in a downward, or alternatively, the hole may be oval.

Each tube carries a shoe which is. so formed that the movement downwards'of the tubes is limited. Each shoe maay be formed of a (lished late having upwardly turned ends and having teeth which engage with the driving sprocket, and a plate. preferably of' oval shape. is secured to the (lished plate and enters a similarly shaped hole in the tube. the plate beingsecured to the tube by bolts.

A track constructed according t0 this inventionmay be turned sideways so as to Serial No. 568,223.

permit the vehicle t-o be steeredby laying the track in a curve, and individual track shoes are capable of turning so that the whole shoe can turn when laid on uneven ground7 and each link being hollow and entirely enclosed can be filled with lubricant.

The annexed drawings show tracks made in accordance with this invention.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section and Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line 2 27 Figure 1, Figure 3 is a left hand end view of one of the links and Figure Li is a modification of the same. Figure 5 is a vlongitudinal section of another form of track. Figure 6 shows the ends of two links fitted with ball bearings. Figures 7 and 8 are similar views to Figures 1 and 2 and show a modification. verse section and Figure 10 a longitudinal section of a modification of the track shown in Figures 1 and 2. Figures 11 and 12 are sections to a larger scale of the plug and washer shown in Figures 9 and 10. Figure 13 is a longitudinal section ofy a modified form of track and Figures 14, 15 and 16 show further modifications.

in all the figures a are tubes forming the links and each tube has on its left hand end an external spherical surface which engages with an internal spherical surface c formed on the right hand end of the adja- -cent tube bya plug (I. Adjacent tubes fr` are .connected together by a screw bolt e having a spherical head f which engages with the internal surface of the contracted end Z) and by a nut f/ which screws on to the bolt e and engages with the plug (Z. The centre line of the hole in the end 71 of each tube is not in a. line with the axis of the tube in order to allow the tube to turn a greater' distance 'in the upward direction than in the downward.` ln the modification shown iIrFigure 4 the hole is made oval.

Each tube a carries a shoe formed of a dished plate z/ having upwardly turned ends 'i The movement downwards of the track is limited b v the ends 7', and y' of adjacent shoes coming in contact with one another. On the plate 71 are teeth 7c by which the track is driven.

ln Figures 1 and 2 another plate Z is bolted Figure 9 is a trans.

to the dished plate 7L and enters a hole in the tube a and the dished plate is secured to the tube by a nut m on an eye-bolt n which is pivotally mounted on the end of the bolt c.

1n Figure 5 the bolt e is secured to the plug d by a pin 0 and a split washer p is inserted between thenut g and the end of the plug d. The dished plate t is connected to the tube a by two bolts g g and nuts rr.

1n Figure 6 two rows of balls in a cage s are inserted between the head f of the bolt e and a washer t which bears against it and the internal surface of the end Z) of the. tube a.

Figures 7 and 8 show a modification of `the track shown in Figures l and 2 in which the dished plate is welded as shown at o e to the tube a and the nut m and eye-bolt n holds a cover plate w over a hole in the tube a, which hole serves for the insertion of the nut g and for putting in lubricant.

All the nuts are locked in any suitable manner.

Referring to Figures 9 to 12, the driving teeth 7tare formed in one piecewith the link a and the bolt e has a fiange A. which engages with a loose spherical washer B preferably made of bronze. The flange A is provided with holes C and the washer B with holes and grooves D for the passage of lubricant. The bolt c has a hole E extending through it so that the lubricant may be forced from one link to another. The bolt c is secured to the link a by right and left hand nuts Fand G and a locking plate H. Thev shoes h are secured to links by bolts I 1.

1n Figure 13 the link (L and the dished plate i forming a shoe are cast in one piece and holes J formed in the end of the link a, and the space between the washer D and the end of the link a is filled with felt K.

Figure 14 shows a modification in which the plug (l is secured in the link a by spinning the link over the plug as shown at L.

In Figure 15 the track consists of two series of dissimilar tubes M and N secured together by plugs 0 and 1 both of which are bolted to the tube M by bolts Q and R and nutsS and T which also secure the dished plate z, to the tube M.

In Figure 16 the inner spherical surface of tlie left hand end 71 of the li'nk a is lined with white metal as shown at V. 1n this case the bolt c has no shoulders and the wear of the parts can be easily adjusted by it.

What I claim is 1. Endless tracks for vehicles comprising tubular links having their ends in'constant contact and universal joint means connecting said links.

2. Endless tracks comprising tubular links having coacting spherical surfaces at their ends, and universal joint means connecting said links.

3. Endless tracks comprising tubular Lacona?.

links each having an external spherical surface at one end and an internal spherical surface lat the other end, and means for holding the coacting surfaces of adjacent links in constant contact.

il. Endless tracks comprising tubular links each hating` an external spherical surmeans connecting said links. track shoes. and

means for connecting the shoes to the links.

7. Endless tracks comprising tubular links having coacting spherical surfaces at their ends. universal joint means connecting said links, track shoes, and means for connecting' the shoes to the links.l

8. Endless tracks comprising tubular links each having an external spherical surface at one end and an internal spherical surface at the other end.I bolts carrying` spherical surfaces and connecting the tubular links to hold the external spherical surface of one link in constant contact with thel internal spherical surface of the adjacent link. track shoes consisting of a plate with upwardly turned ends, and means for connecting the shoes to the links.

9. Endless tracks comprising tubular links having coacting spherical surfaces at their ends. bolts carrying spherical surfaces and holding said spherical surfaces of the links in constant engagement` track shoes so formed as to limit the downward movement of the links, and means for connecting thc shoes to the links.

10. Endless tracks comprising tubular links having coacting spherical surfaces at their ends. bolts carrying spherical surfaces and holding said spherical surfacesof the links in constant engagement` track shoes each consisting of a plate with upturncd ends, and driving teeth made unitary with the plate.

11. Endless tracks comprising tubular links each having an external spherical surface at one end. a plug in the other end having an internal spherical surface. and universal joint means holding said external and internal spherical surfaces of adjacent links in constant contact.

12. Endless tracks comprising tubular links each having an external spherical surface at one end and an internal spherical i internal spherical surfaces of adjacent links in constant contact, track shoes, screws pivoted to the bolts, and means for securing the shoes to the screws. j

13. Endless tracks comprising tubular links each having an external spherical surface at one end and an internal spherical surface at the other end, bolts having spherical surfaces and holding the external and internal spherical surfaces of adjacent links in constant contact, track shoes each so formed as to limit the downward movement ofthe links, `screws pivoted to the bolts, and means Jfor securing the shoes to the screws.

414. Endless tracks for vehicles comprising tubular links and means holding the ends of adjacent links in constant contact so that the links provide a continuous smooth surface for rollers at all times.

15. Endless tracks for vehicles con'iprisi-ngtubular links` and universal joint means holding the ends of adjacent links in con-.

stant Contact so that the links provide a continuous smooth surface for rollers at all times.

16. Endless tracks for vehicles comprising tubular links having coacting spherical surfaces at their ends, and universal joint means holding the ends ot' adjacent links in con'- stant contact so that the links provide a continuous smooth surface for rollers, at all times.

' 17 Endless tracks for vehicles comprising I hollow tubular links adapted to contam lubricant, and having spherical. ends. and means holding the spherical ends in contact to permit relative movement but prevent escape of the lubricant.

18. Endless tracks for vehicles comprising hollow tubular links adapted to contain lubricant, each link having an external spherical end and an internal spherical end. and a bolt holding the coacting spherical ends of adjacent links togetherto permit universal movement but prevent escape of lubricant.

19. Endless tracks for vehicles comprising hollow tubular links, a bolt for connecting adjacent` links, said link having an opening through which the bolt may be passed into place, a plate for covering said opening, and means for holding the plate in position.

20. Endless tracks for vehicles comprising hollow tubular links, a bolt for connecting adjacent links, said link having an opening throughwhich the bolt may be passed into place, a plate for covering said opening, a track shoe carried by said plate, and means for holding'tlre plate in position.

21. Endless tracks for vehicles comprising hollow tubular links. a bolt for connecting adjacent links, said link having` an opening through which the bolt-may be passed into place, a plate for covering said opening, a track shoe carried by said plate, and means supported from the "bolt for holding the plate in position.

22. Endless tracks for vehicles comprising hollow tubular links provided with coacting spherical surfaces, a bolt having a spherical surface for connecting adjacent links and holding their spherical surfaces in constant contact, said link having an opening through which the bolt may be passed into place, aA plate for covering said opening and means for holding the plate in position.

23. Endless tracks for vehicles comprising hollow tubular links adapted to contain lubricant, said links having coacting spherical ends, a bolt holding said spherical ends in Contact and preventing escape of lubricant. each link having an opening through which the bolt may be passed into place, a plate for covering said opening and preventing -escape of lubricant, and means for holding said plate in position.

12th day of June, 1922.

GEORGE JOHN RACKHM. 

